Remade

Chapter 11

Even though I appeared to be nonchalant about the topic of Stephan's disappearance, I had a sick feeling in my stomach whenever I thought about it. He had been gone for about 3 weeks and we had already had another Assignment Day. Mason and I were going to orphanages and safe houses to check on their conditions during the hard winter months. Christmas and New Years' had come and gone and his remaining absence was strange. He should be back by now, right? There was no way he could be gone on simply a family vacation. He probably took off running from the girl who appeared to like him but had mounds of baggage and the eternal supply of broken people.

"You've been really quiet," Joanne's voice snaps me back to the library where she had joined me for a research session.

I reluctantly put down the story of a girl who refused to have her education taken away from her and risked her life to speak out. "Yeah, sorry, I've just been thinking..."

"About Stephan?" I look at her curiously. She smiles and says, "Your face changes when you do. You look tired and hopeful. You like him, don't you?"

I sigh. "I think I do Jo. But it could never work out."

"Why not?"

"We work together!"

"So? When you see him, how do you feel?" She sets her book down and props her head up on her hands.

"I feel butterflies in my stomach when he looks at me and when he smiles. I love talking to him and learning about his opinions and telling him mine. I notice little details about him, the light in his eyes, the way he smells, the way he leans..." I trickle to a stop. "But none of that matters. If I tell him and he doesn't feel the same, everything will shatter." You mean you will. "I don't want to lose what we have and I don't want to get hurt. I rather talk myself out of these feelings and be sad on my own terms than on someone else's."

Jo is looking at me seriously, listening intently with her big blue eyes, "Don't you think you should still try though?" she whispers. "If you really believe you care for him, shouldn't you say something?"

I shake my head. "If it's right, he'll come to me soon. If not and he keeps sending me mixed signals, then I'll ask him and rip off the Band-Aid."

"Speaking of Band-Aids..." A boy looking roughly 17 with messy hair and a faded Nirvana t-shirt walks up to our table just in time.

"Carter." Joanne straightens up, fidgets with her book, and smiles at him. "Hi what's up?" Aha. I try to hide my grin before the mystery boy responds.

"Hey Jo," he says veering off from me to give her a charming smile before going to the grim facial expression he had before. "I'd love to talk but I'm afraid I have bad news."

Joanne's eyes become bubbles. "What? Did Mr. Meers..."

"No, no of course not, he's recovering well," he reassures. "It's just we just had a rather curious admittance to the clinic.

"Curious? How so?"

"A broken arm, suspected bruised ribs, and other minor damages due to practicing underground former Navy Seal training techniques."

I gasp. Although the Institute does have its physical training program, we are strictly restricted to what we learn to avoid any conflicts with the government or super soldiers and whatnot. Wouldn't want us to rebel now, would you Mr. Congressman? "Who was the idiot who went all gung-ho G.I. Joe?" Joanne asks bluntly.

Carter appears to do his best not snort and collects himself. "Mason Darrow."

Joanne drops her jaw in surprise and I just sit there staring at him. I push my chair back abruptly, stand up, and start picking up my things and beeline for the door. When Carter beats me to the door and opens it for me, I say, "Thank you. I'm going to kill him."

A/N: Hey guys! I really love that you're all reading my story and I'm sorry (not really) for the short chapter. However.... I promise that there are big things coming your way!

Btw Malala Yousafzai is my idol and hero and you all should research her story, she is truly amazing and humbling and life changing. I've been learning a lot about her on my own and at school and I really wanted to share that with you all. :)

Like it up and send in those comments! >.<